I have a lot of favorite places in Vero Beach. My home in Grovenor Estates and my church, First Baptist, rank at the top of the list.

Other places I love include CJ Cannon's, Steak & Shake (especially the milk shakes), and any restaurant that serves good pizza or good barbecue. I guess that old saying about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach is true after all.

But one of my favorite places in Vero that I doubt would make anyone else's list is a small grassy plot in front of the Heritage Center. There, just a few feet from the front door, sits a small monument with a brass plaque.

The plaque commemorates the spot where William Jennings Bryan delivered his last public address on July 2, 1925. Given just 30 days before his death, Bryan's speech celebrated the creation of Indian River County.

For those who may have forgotten, Bryan was the Democratic nominee for president in 1896, 1900 and 1908. Yes, that's right; he ran three times and lost three times. The first two times, William McKinley beat him and the last time, it was William Howard Taft who came out on top.

So why would a conservative Republican like me want to honor a progressive Democrat like Bryan?

Well, for several reasons.

First, Bryan was known as "The Great Commoner" because he identified with the common, everyday man. He hailed from the farm country of Nebraska, but despite his worldwide fame, he never lost touch with his roots.

There's a lesson to be learned there.

Second, Bryan was a devout Presbyterian. As such, he was equally at home in the pulpit as he was on the campaign stump. In other words, he was a man of faith, and that faith influenced his world view.

Bryan's faith compelled him to seek peace whenever possible and to have compassion on those less fortunate.

I think there is a lesson to be learned there as well.

Tragically, Bryan is best remembered today — if at all — as one of the prosecuting attorneys in the Scopes Monkey Trial. He was depicted in the play "Inherit the Wind" and in four subsequent movies as an irrational and out-of-touch blowhard, someone so mentally challenged that he sought to defend creationism by using the Bible as his main text.

Often overlooked is the fact that Bryan won his case.

I admire William Jennings Bryan. Although I disagree with many of his political positions, he was a man who spoke his mind without demonizing his opposition. He also aspired to great heights without forgetting his humble beginnings.

Yes, we could all learn something from "The Great Commoner." We could also honor his memory by visiting his monument on occasion and drawing inspiration from his example.

Dale Glading is a two-time GOP congressional candidate in New Jersey and president of Risk Takers for Christ, Vero Beach.